"Oh, that we might have the faith of a little child. I listened the other night to a little five-and-a-half-year-old son into whose home there has recently come a brand new baby. Through the period of preparation the mother had undergone stern difficulty. At one time it was thought that the baby was lost, and its life was not there, and even after the baby, there were difficulties involved. This little one in the family circle had heard constantly the pleadings with God that the baby might be saved and that the mother might be protected. All this seemed to have an impression, and I heard this little boy say, 'Dear God, I am glad we can talk to you in these wonderful words, and dear God, I wish there was something that I could do for you for all the wonderful things that you have done for us.'
"I wish that we could all capture the sweetness and the beauty of that childish request. If we could only understand all the things that the Comforter has done for us, we would pray like that little child. 'Dear God, I wish there was something I could do for you for all the wonderful things that you have done for us.'"
- Harold B. Lee, "Be Secure in the Gospel of Jesus Christ," BYU devotional, 11 February 1958; see THBL 194
Often children amaze us with the simplicity and purity of their faith. President Lee shares one such example. The young boy he describes must have learned from the language of his parents, that in spite of trials and challenges, there is much to be grateful for.
Of course, the only thing God asks us to do for Him in return for the blessings we receive is to love Him in return, to live faithfully by His word, and to spread His light to those around us.
(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)
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